Etene Nanai-Seturo of Chiefs in action during a Super Rugby match played at the Jose Amalfitani stadium in Buenos Aires in March. Photo: EPA/Marcelo Endelli

Chiefs survive Reds onslaught stay in finals contention

May 24, 2019

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WELLINGTON – The Chiefs produced an epic defensive effort to keep alive their slim finals hopes with a hard-fought 19-13 win over Queensland Reds in Hamilton on Friday.

The New Zealanders scored three tries to one despite being outplayed for most of the match and failing to notch a point in the second half.

They made 242 tackles to 85 as the Reds dominated possession but failed to find a way through.

“Man, that was an immense effort to hold the Reds out, they were outstanding in the second half,” captain Brad Weber said. “We were probably our own worst enemy, giving away a ton of penalties and couldn't get out of our own half.”

The win takes the Chiefs above Auckland Blues in the New Zealand conference and makes a spot in the finals a mathematical possibility, although most teams in contention have a game in hand on them and results would need to go their way.